I’ve always said that the eyes are one of the greatest features to play up when applying your makeup. Mascara cosmetics are a great way to play up eyes because there is a range of options so that no matter what your eyes may look like, you can make them look great with a little mascara.

Using mascara cosmetics is something that many women shy away from. The idea of trying to delicately paint your eyelashes with the tiny wand is more than gals can handle. It really isn’t that bad, though. Once you learn how to do it you can quickly apply a couple coats every morning with ease.

One of the biggest issues with applying mascara cosmetics is that the mascara gets on the area around your eye and can be difficult to remove. This is caused by not allowing the mascara to dry. It is a rather fast drying product so slowing down a bit when applying will eliminate this common problem.

Here are some of my best tips for choosing a great mascara!

Choose a type: As mentioned, there are a variety of different types of mascara. You will find mascaras that separate and some that plump. You will also find a variety of wand styles. You should read the product description and choose the mascara that will suit your needs and desires.

Get a magic wand: A great product for those of you want volume, length and curl all in one with an easy to use brush is Stila Multi-Effect Mascara Black. This mascara has a curved wand that will help you avoid getting the mascara on your face.

Find a winning formula: Look for a mascara formula that is made to plump and lengthen your eyelashes. It is a great product for beginners or experienced mascara users.

Now that you have chosen your mascara you can begin.

It is best to start with the upper lashes. You want to look down a bit so that your eyelashes are not lying right against your eyelid. Brush them slightly with the wand. Keep looking down for a couple of seconds to allow the makeup to dry. You can then add another layer of mascara if you would like.

To finish you need to do your bottom lashes. You do not want to brush them or you will end up with mascara all over your face. Instead use the end of the wand and run it back and forth across your lower lashes to coat them. Again, make sure you hold your head so that the lashes are not lying against your face.

It is that simple. Now you can really make your eyes stand out with a little mascara. On those days when you are running late try using just mascara and you will be surprised at how great this product can work alone. It is a quick and easy cosmetic product that you will make you wonder how you ever lived without it.

Try it for yourself.

Caterina - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

How often have you been a victim of “raccoon eyes” due to drippy eye makeup that didn’t last through that unexpected tear-jerker of a movie?  (Or maybe your unexpected tear-jerker of a life?) That’s why a key component of every girl’s cosmetics tool kit should be some really good waterproof make up. But to find the make up you really love in a waterproof version isn’t always easy.

That’s why I was so excited to find this value packed makeup kit. The Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Collection is a limited edition value pack issued this season by Makeup Forever. And yes, I know I’ve been praising the merits of makeup kits to death in some of these beauty reviews- but what’s not to love?

This waterproof make up kit also includes one of the best makeup innovations I’ve ever seen- Make Up For Ever Eye Seal 0.4 oz. Eye Seal is this miraculous formula that can transform any powder into a waterproof liquid liner. Isn’t that cool? But the kit also includes mascara, cleanser, liner and pencil.  A total value of $85 at a cost of $45. Now do you se why I love these waterproof make up kits?

There are bargains out there girls, just waiting to be had. And I’ve got a lot more beauty reviews to bring you on all these great products. So keep on reading!

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

Like a frame around a picture, eye liner makes your eyes stand out. Really, other than mascara, it’s my favorite tool for the eyes. But my scan of beauty reviews for how to put on eye liner brings up the constant question of whether or not it’s OK to use eyeliner on the inner part of your lower lash line. You know- the part that is right next to your eyeball.

Well, I’ve always advised against it, due to the risk of infection. But there are some smoky eye looks that use this method. And a lot of the responses to beauty reviews claim that you won’t get an infection unless you’re sharing your makeup with someone who’ve infected.

Here’s my thinking. Even if you’re not worried about the risk of infection- my how to put on eye liner advice is to use eye liner below the lower lash line. Using it inside/above will only make eyes appear smaller. And if you are one of the few who truly desire that effect, there are other ways to achieve it. (Line the whole perimeter of your eye, for instance.)

Either way- here are the basic steps for how to put on eye liner.

1. Choose a versatile eye liner that will allow you to achieve both fine thin lines, and fatter smudgy ones. My current fave is Bare Escentuals Liner Shadow Compact Quad IV. It comes with four shades and a brush.
2. Hold your upper lid taut with your non-dominant hand, and use your writing hand to start at the inner corner of your eye and work outward. To really make your eyes appear larger you can focus on the outer edges by starting liner in the middle and working out from there.
3. Use a similar approach on the lower lash line. If using a pencil instead of a brush, try smudging staring through those lashes.

Remember to let liquid eyeliner dry before opening your eyes. And play around to figure out which type of liner you like best.

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com- a positive place for women and girls

Phew! Let me take a big breath after that title. But it needs to be a long title, because it hits on an important topic. A lot of girls are a bit overwhelmed by beauty reviews on eye makeup how to apply it and choose it. If you’re getting confused by the beauty reviews you are reading, then my advice is to stop reading. Beauty reviews should be simple and straight-forward. Not complicated doctoral theses on the chemical makeup of makeup!

That’s why I try to keep my beauty reviews short, sweet and on a single topic. Maybe two if they are related. Why? I really enjoy playing with makeup and learning about skincare. I think it should be fun. So here is my one quick tip on eye makeup how to apply it.

Dark eye shadow minimizes the areas you apply it to. Lighter eye shadow colors bring attention to those areas. So if you want to make your eyes look closer together put your brighter eye shadow shade in the outer corner. If you want them to appear further apart try you brighter shade in the inner part of the eyelids. Try the Too Faced Eye Shadow Duo for some stunning color combinations like Too Faced Eyeshadow Duo Cocoa Lilly with chocolate brown and lilac rose.

This may sound like a simple technique on eye makeup how to apply it, but in my experience, the simplest beauty reviews are the most effective.

Hi ladies! You know I get a ton of requests for beauty reviews on really specific areas of need. For instance, how to put on eye makeup for brown eyes is a biggie! But don’t worry if you’ve got baby blues or glam greens, the basics of these beauty reviews will apply to you too. And I’ll get to your specific issue eventually. Promise!

The difference between how to put on eye makeup for brown eyes versus other eye colors simply comes down to choosing complimentary colors. The techniques will be the same. But pay attention to the part where I said complimentary colors. You don’t need to match exactly (please don’t!) or go to the opposite side of the color wheel. A tone that is similar to your eye color can go along way to act as a background for letting your brown eyes shine.

To make life easy you might try one of the Summer Eye Shadow Trios by Stila. I really like the Stila Summer Eyeshadow Trio Mazatlan and the Stila Summer Eyeshadow Trio Acapulco color combinations for brown eyes. (Besides, it sounds like taking an exotic cruise.) Some colors that go well with brown eyes are copper, bronze, soft champagne and khaki green. For a bit more pop you can add a brighter pink or more vibrant green. Your specific skin tone matters, but these are pretty safe places to start your search.

Keep in mind that any beauty reviews you read, whether for something as specific as how to put on eye makeup for brown eyes, or as general as choosing lipstick, should be a starting point. As you get more comfortable with the basics, you get to branch out on your own. And that’s where your creativity and individual nature really get to shine!

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

One of the most frequent questions I get on makeup is how to match eye shadow colors. This is really confusing for a lot of girls. Should you try to match your clothes, your eyes, the season, your skin tone? My scan of the beauty reviews out there makes the reason for all the confusion clear. Most beauty reviews give you the writer’s opinion, but not the reasons behind it. And for any free-thinking woman, you want to know why you’re doing what you’re doing!

The Makeup How to Match Eye Shadow Tutorial

In my humble, but experienced, opinion I always advise that you work on complimenting your eye color, and then give consideration to your skin tone. Here’s why. Your eyes are set immediately against your face, not your shoes, your handbag or that really cute dress you just bought. Trying to pair your eye shadow with clothing is like choosing a picture frame to compliment your furniture, rather than the picture and the wall it is set against.

Also, a key to makeup how to match eye shadow comes straight from that color wheel your elementary art teacher showed you. Remember how it’s broken into the primary and secondary colors, and gradually moves from one to another. Most beauty reviews don’t bother to explain that this is how you learn which colors compliment your eye color. Take a look at a color wheel, and then try to choose colors close to your eye color, but different enough to make an impact. You wouldn’t frame a mostly green picture in the same green color frame. It would get lost. Most likely you’d pick a complimentary color a few tones away off.

OK- brown isn’t actually on the color wheel; it’s a combination of all the colors. Still the best colors for brown eyes tend to be coppers, beiges, and champagnes, all tones of brown. Get it? If you’re still unsure try a makeup how to match eye shadow kit like the Pop Beauty Eye Class - Blue Eyes Blue Eyes. Let them do the initial work for you. Eventually you’ll learn enough about complimentary colors to writer you own beauty reviews!

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos- founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

There are so many ways to apply eye makeup, but the endless choices for how to apply eye shadow makeup must top the list. You can combine any where from one to four colors to create depth, add shimmer, or draw attention to or away from certain features. Once you know the basic skills of how to apply eye shadow makeup, your creative options are amazing.

Let’s start with the basics of how to apply eye shadow makeup in one color. I always recommend that you invest in high quality brushes. You don’t need to spend a fortune, but using a pliable, yet firm, bristled brush will give you a lot more control than those pathetic sponge wands. Something like the Bare Escentuals Wet/Dry Shadow Brush helps to blend colors smoothly.

For one shade only, try the NARS Single Eye Shadow Ashes to Ashes in a shade that compliments your eye color. Contrasting is better than matching to make your eye color “pop”. With a single color your goal is to draw subtle attention to your eyes. So fairly neutral colors like the Nars California, Ashes to Ashes or Voyage are all good choices.

Cover you brush with color, but tap off any excess powder. Then use a wide sweeping motion to cover your lower lid area, below the crease, from the inner to the outer corner. Try to stay on the surface of the lid. Then repeat the action from the crease up to your brow. But don’t go beyond the temple area. It is that simple.

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com

Mascara is an essential part of your eye makeup design because it frames the entire eye. It’s like the difference between a framed and an unframed picture. Something about a solid border to emphasize your focal point is very powerful

How to apply mascara is a pretty simple technique. Just be sure you are using new, good quality mascara. Old eye makeup applies poorly and can cause eye infections. If you use an eyelash curler, like the Sephora “Go Curl” Eyelash Curler, that should be your first step in preparing your lashes.

Next choose your mascara. (I’m currently in love with the dramatic Dior Diorshow Black Out Mascara Kohl Black 099.) Start with your upper lids, as close to the lash base as possible. Then sweep up and out. If you end up with any clumping- one of the best secrets I’ve come across is to use an old and cleaned-up mascara wand to remove the clumps.

Don’t do the same on your lower lid. Instead, try using the wand almost like a pencil. Just use the tip to brush along your delicate lower lashes. Clean up any specks with tissue and you’re done. How to apply mascara is probably one of the easiest beauty lessons to learn. And using mascara can have the most impact of all your eye makeup.

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

So you have a beautiful new compact full of eye shadow colors that compliment your complexion to a tee. But you don’t know what to do with them! Does the dark shade go on the top or the bottom of your lid? Do you start at the inner or outer part of your eye? Well, you’re not alone. How to apply multi color eye makeup is a skill that most women just try to figure out as they go. The whole point of using more than one eye shadow color is to create shadows and contours in just the right places. But where are those places- you ask?

Let’s start by choosing a color palette that includes 3 eye shadow shades and an eyeliner that you like. For explanation, we’ll use the Bare Escentuals iQuad Eyeshadow Compact Quad.

Start with the olive (or your chosen color) eyeliner. Use your hand to pull skin taut and gently line from the inner corner of the eye outward.
Use the included buffing brush to apply the lightest of your three tones (ivory) to your lid area, up to its natural crease.
Use your next lightest color (citrus twist) to cover from your crease to just below your brow. Brush outwards, in an attempt to let the color flow, rather than stop abruptly.
Finally, use your darkest shade (bronze) to emphasize the back corner of your eyelid. Take care to blend your colors. The goal is to add depth, and draw attention in a subtle way.

This is just one example of how to apply multi color eye makeup. The possibilities are truly endless.

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

Tips of the trade on how to wear eye makeup are endless. This is because there are so many looks you can create, colors you can choose from, and tools to achieve the looks you want. Here are two dramatically different ways to learn how to wear eye makeup. The first involves taking tips, tools and makeup from experts in the trade.

For instance, look at the Smashbox Beauty Book ($181 Value) Beauty Book“>Smashbox Beauty Book. The makeup experts at the Smashbox Photo Studio in Los Angeles created this educational beauty package. This kit will give you the makeup they use, and specific step-by-step guidance on how to wear eye makeup- not to mention face and lip makeup too!

The other route is to try a product and play around with it on your own. The Stila Smudge Pots Black are among my favorite eye makeups. This is a gel eyeliner and shadow combined into one product. I recommend you get something like the Clinique eyeliner brush for application. Then just play around with this one. The gel has a completely different feel than you’ll get from powders. But I personally like how it goes on, and the look it creates.

I’ve already given you a lot of advice on how to create specific looks with your eye shadow and eye liner. But the most important pointer I can give on how to wear eye makeup is to choose products that you enjoy using. After all, beauty starts by feeling great.

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls